Pelosi's Disastrous Miscalculation

The Weekly Standard ^ | 11/30/05 | William Kristol

[Pokey78]

The House Democratic leader may have just handed a victory to the Congressional GOP.

Today, Nancy Pelosi endorsed withdrawal from Iraq. Her statement is a political opportunity for the GOP.

Until now, it seemed to me more likely than not that Democrats would win back the House in 2006: Bush's numbers are bad; the GOP is getting no credit for a strong economy (which could in any case weaken by a year from now); the Abramoff scandal is going to get bigger; twelve years in charge of the House, and three years in control of all three elected bodies, have created weariness and dissatisfaction with the GOP. All this made me think the 2006 elections could result in a Speaker Pelosi.

I now think that unlikely. Pelosi's endorsement today of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq makes the House Democrats the party of defeat, the party of surrender. Bush's strong speech today means the GOP is likely to be--if Republican Congressmen just keep their nerve--the party of victory. Now it is possible that the situation in Iraq will worsen over the next year. If that happens, Bush and the GOP are in deep trouble. They would have been if Pelosi had said nothing. But it is much more likely that the situation in Iraq will stay more or less the same, or improve. In either case, Republicans will benefit from being the party of victory.

It goes without saying that Bush should seek victory in Iraq regardless of Congressional elections, and regardless of polling results. But Republicans on the Hill, whose nervousness has in turn rattled

some in the White House, should now realize that the die is cast. If, a year from now, Iraq is judged to have been a mistake and to be a disaster, the Democrats will benefit--for that is the position of their leadership. But if Iraq is judged to be a war worth fighting and winning--a war we are proud our soldiers are fighting and which we expect to win--that judgment will benefit the GOP in a way it might not have until Pelosi's statement today.

So all Bush has to do is fight the war. And if he really wants to torment the Democrats--and advance the war effort--he could make Joe Lieberman Secretary of Defense.

--William Kristol

[Lando Lincoln]

Hey poke.....long time.....hope you are well.

Lando

[yldstrk]

Pelosi s dumb as a post...

[Pokey78]

Very well! And I hope you & yours are too!

[oh8eleven]

twelve years in charge of the House, and three years in control of all three elected bodies, have created weariness and dissatisfaction with the GOP. All this made me think the 2006 elections could result in a Speaker Pelosi.
Weariness? I think we just elected more Reps to Congress, we just regained control of the Senate and we just re-elected GWB. That's weariness? Kristol is such a loser.

[Txsleuth]

According to andrea Mitchell on Hairball today...the House REpublicans are running as fast as they can AWAY from President Bush and his speech today...because they see him losing the war...and the people...

[tdewey10]

That's an insult to the post.

[Mo1]

Where the heck has Kristol been the last couple of months??

Did he just come out of a deep sleep or something?

[Dog Gone]

Until now, it seemed to me more likely than not that Democrats would win back the House in 2006

That's because you're an idiot, Bill. Life is always gloomy for you.

The worst case scenario was losing a couple of seats in the House and perhaps one in the Senate. I'd say it's far more likely that we'll gain.

Saddam will have danced at the end of a rope, Iraq will continue to improve, the economy may stop its breakneck acceleration long enough for Americans to realize that it's quite good, and the Democrats will continue to offer nothing.

[FFIGHTER]

Don't insult posts, their smarter.

[pissant]

And Lieberman would make a better Sec. of Defense than Rummy. This is the LAST time I read anything by Billie boy.

[SaxxonWoods]

Bush will continue to fight the war, and stay the course. Chicken Republican congressmen/women will be jumping back on the ship soon. Especially now that Joe Lieberman is to their RIGHT on Iraq, Sheesh.

Pelosi will help widen the MoveOn--Hillary split.

It's all good.

Now if the cruddy Bush PR dept would get off it's butt and help George brag on the economy, and let Bush continue to defend the Iraq front, things will get better for him in the polls too.

[facedown]

...he could make Joe Lieberman Secretary of Defense.

Kristol either needs a new gag writer or he needs to have his meds adjusted.

[EagleUSA]

Pelosi s dumb as a post...
-----
Yes she is. A blithering moron elected by equally stupid and selfish voters. Along with her Marxist/Communist friends and organizational associations, as well as part of the Progressive (communist) Causcus in our very own Congress, she reigns high in support for the ultra-radical-left faction in the California legislature, as well as the Congress.

I keep sending her emails, encouraging her to take her communism and liberal mania to Cuba, for the sake of California....

[Bobbisox]

My only words to Palosi would be "NANCY...YOU IGNORANT SLUT!"

[Mo1]

According to andrea Mitchell on Hairball today...the House REpublicans are running as fast as they can AWAY from President Bush and his speech today...because they see him losing the war...and the people...

Hey Andrea ... here's a Hint

403-3

[LS]

Kristol is about two weeks late. I said this the night of the debate on the "Murtha" bill. See "A Landscape-Altering Vote"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1525126/posts

[Democracy In Iraq]

Ms. Pelosi, read my lips:

Four-hundred and three to three.

---

[Patriot from Philly]

I notice that Bill is still trying to get rid of Rumsfeld. Although, I gotta admit, appointing Liberman as Secretary of Defense would be a smart move. It would be bipartisan,it would create a lot of buzz and I'm a little tired of Rumsfeld too.

He didn't react to the insurgency as quickly as he could have.

[M. Thatcher]

Until now, it seemed to me more likely than not that Democrats would win back the House in 2006

Typical Kristol.

If he's ever right about anything, it's an accident.